David Axelrod Backhands Mitt Romney For 'Good Ideas' On Health Care Reform

Departing White House senior advisor David Axelrod took a jab at the achilles heel of potential GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a recent interview, when he commended the former Massachusetts Governor for his work on reforming the Bay State's health care system.

"[He] did some interesting things there on health care, you know," Axelrod told USA Today. "We got some good ideas from him."

In 2006, then-Gov. Romney helped to shape a new state health care system that, among other reforms, made way for the individual health insurance mandate, a divisive provision included in the national overhaul, which passed last year amid total Republican opposition.

Axelrod is not the first -- and certainly won't be the last -- to point out Romney's history on the health care reform issue, which is likely to be a part of Republican debate in 2012.

Earlier this month, GOP strategist Karl Rove suggested that Romney could overcome his previous support for one of the most demonized aspects of health care reform if he simply admitted fault in backing the measure as governor. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) was similarly forgiving of Romney, saying in an interview last year that he simply no longer believed in "RomneyCare."

While former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, another potential 2012 contender, had been less accommodating of Romney's work on health care, he appeared to cut Romney some slack in an interview last November. According to Gingrich, Romney's loudly-stated opposition to the Democratic health care reform package and his resistance to some details of the Massachusetts plan could provide him some political cover.

Comments

[Pundit Commentator]

05:11 PM on 02/01/2011

Watch this. I dare you not to tear up.

http://www­­.youtube.­c­om/watch­?v­=wmT6HL­p28­fw&fea­ture­=rela­ted”

“We will not be silenced whether you are Muslim whether you are Christian whether you are Atheist. You will demand your godd@mn rights and we will have our rights one way or the other." - protester in cairo on Jan 25.

The original title is "Egyptian Revolution - Jan 25 2011- Take what's yours"

Youtube has already restricted access to the original video. One mirror has 1.19 millio­n views. There are many, many more mirrors.

[Pundit Commentator]

05:42 PM on 02/01/2011

Apparently Youtube has already restricted access in the U.S. to that mirror.

Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvoyfMLO6rU

[Boomerwoman]

03:56 PM on 02/01/2011

Mitty is running from his past as fast as he can.

[wowme]

02:31 PM on 02/01/2011

I am thankful for romney's MA healthcare. My aunt had a tumor and the expensive surgery was paid by his plan. I think everyone needs those kind of plan who can't afford it.

[johndab]

02:26 PM on 02/01/2011

Most of the strong attacks will come from his own party during the primaries. Poor Willard, he is accused of leading the way on health care reform only to be rebuked by his own party. It will be interesting to see how he deals with it.

[raker]

01:11 PM on 02/01/2011

If I were poor and insured there's no way I'd be willing to pay money I can't afford for a cheapo insurance plan that covers virtually nothing and provides no benefits in return.

[mynamesyow]

12:59 PM on 02/01/2011

Best Strategy for Republicans looking towards 2012: Give them just enough Rope to Hang themselves then sit back and enjoy the meltdown...

[relay73]

02:06 PM on 02/01/2011

The Repubs just got handed the rope. America wanted to see them in office and now we can watch them fall to pieces. Rubio defecting from the Tea Party, Bachman and Brewer scaring the hell out of the nation with their lifeless eyes, Boehner crying every time someone asks a question. Sounds like the Republicans are going through serious bouts of clinical depression if you ask my medical opinion. And Im not a doctor.

[RKBA 2A]

09:26 AM on 02/01/2011

Mitt Romney will make an announcement on The View this morning. Mitt's best seller, "No Apology"
will be released today in paperback. Why do Axelrod and Mr.Obama fear Romney's attack of the
' THOUSAND PAPER CUTS ' ?

[JPJABBER]

09:43 AM on 02/01/2011

Uh......they don't,

[RKBA 2A]

09:55 AM on 02/01/2011

Yep......they do,

[JPMac]

09:02 AM on 02/01/2011

"We got some ideas from him" Funny and the Mass plan is considered a failure!!! Way to run the entire countries heathcare system just like a failed one...I thought these people were the smartest we have ever had in the White House!!!???

[Boston-liberal]

09:11 AM on 02/01/2011

It's not considered a failure. We have the highest rate of uninsured in the country at 98%. As for dubious reports that the bill is the reason why we have a budget deficit,that's false too. It's the recession caused by Republican economic theories. Thanks for that.

[Shaun Hensley]

09:59 AM on 02/01/2011

Considered a failure? By whom?

Our health delivery system is a failure. ObamaCare doesn't go far enough to address it.

[doodlebug2]

10:49 AM on 02/01/2011

by some guy that doesn't probably know where it is on the map,

[mom72]

08:48 AM on 02/01/2011

According to Romney, it's okay if a state mandates health insurance just not the Federal Government!! WHAT????? These Republicans flip flop depending on which way the wind blows!!

[JPMac]

09:05 AM on 02/01/2011

Clearly you have no comcept of the constitution that reserves all right not granted to the Federal Government to the states..thing enumerated power!!! The US Government can't require you to buy car insurance but states do require insurance to register your car...ever get pulled over and the cop asks for proof of insurance?? May understand what you are taking about before typing next time!!

[mom72]

09:12 AM on 02/01/2011

Yes, but all Republicans were FOR it when Bob Dole proposed a FEDERAL MANDATE!!

[Dogwithoutaleash]

09:16 AM on 02/01/2011

Way to spin it there, Bucky. What it really comes down to is that Rove, Bachmann, and Gingrich say that if its a Republican idea, its good. Democratic idea its bad.

[Pennstategirl]

08:43 AM on 02/01/2011

The Republicans presently lurch toward the right, pulled by the conservative tea party movement allowing the fringe such as Palin, Bachmann et al to define the party. They now disassociate themselves with ideas formerly put forth as Republican solutions such as health care (Romney, Dole) while the younger generation seems to be more realistic (Barbara Bush, Megan McCain) about social ideas such as gay rights. Romney has some explaining to do if he wants to run. I think he still has the Mormon bias to get past the Blue dogs, such as they are.

[mamala4]

08:11 AM on 02/01/2011

Another, "I was for it before I was against it." Romney will be a no-go in 2012.

[balrog221]

07:13 AM on 02/01/2011

There was ZERO GOP opposition real time in 2006. No Romney was hailed as a brilliant tax cutter. Where was Gingrich then?

[mamala4]

08:11 AM on 02/01/2011

Probably dumping one of his wives.

[mstock57]

08:22 AM on 02/01/2011

Or selling awards to his donors.

[amd02148]

02:34 AM on 02/01/2011

Romneycare alone is going to sink Mitt with the GOP, it's so similar to Obamacare old Mitt doesn't stand a chance.

[BUSTERtheCAT]

02:24 AM on 02/01/2011

mittens is a li ar

and he said in 08 campaign..." his 5 grown sons are helping the WA r effort by helping him get elected President"

mittens is also a chump

[mamala4]

08:12 AM on 02/01/2011

Mittens...LOVE IT...f and f....

[lovecats]

11:49 PM on 01/31/2011

Axelrod, you're the man by pointing out to the GOP that the current law is nothing more than a Republican creation. The mandate...a GOP idea. Obamacare = Romneycare. What gives? The Republicans got what they want and then they attack Obama. What a bunch of ingrates. Or is there something more sinister here. If a white guy made those proposals would they and their Tea Party acolytes be so angry and besides themselves? I think not. At the heart of the matter is race plain and simple.

[balrog221]

07:15 AM on 02/01/2011

...and choice. Agreed!